Before launching its new payment technology, Apple secured agreements with more than 220,000 merchants — including big names like McDonald's, Staples, Whole Foods and Subway.

Given these assets, it's easy to understand why retailers are flocking to Apple Pay in droves.

But as a smaller merchant, does it make sense to adopt Apple's payment technology? How much will it cost you to implement Apple Pay at your business?

A Quick Breakdown of Apple Pay Implementation Costs

The biggest single cost is the NFC contactless payment terminal that you must purchase. With this newer type of reader, customers can wirelessly complete transactions at the register without having to physically insert any payment information.

Prices for NFC terminals range from $300 to $500. And depending on the type of reader, you may also need to invest in additional software upgrades.

You also need to think about employee training. Your staff must understand how to properly use NFC contactless readers to process payments. The training should also include refunds, chargebacks and cancellations. This cost (measured in employee hours) can vary, depending on the size of your staff.

Altogether, you might end up spending anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 after factoring in hardware, software and wages.

As a smaller retailer, these expenses may seem daunting. Does it really make sense to invest limited resources so your store can begin accepting the “hottest” and “newest” technology out there?

Read on.

Is Apple Pay Worth the Investment?

Ultimately, it is a personal decision — one that will vary from merchant to merchant. But there’s a reason why 220,000 retailers and restaurants have already made the switch: lower fees.

Credit card swipe fees in the U.S. are notoriously high — ranging from 2 percent to 4 percent. In fact, American merchants pay out over $50 billion every year (which is more than the rest of the world combined). Card issuers use a portion of these fees to boost security and fund reward programs.

When setting up its payment system, Apple managed to reduce these fees by as much as 10 percent. It was able to do this for two reasons:

1. The Merchant Customer Exchange

Apple Pay is not the only mobile payment technology on the horizon. A consortium of retailers will soon launch the Merchant Customer Exchange — a mobile payment option that allows users to upload non-credit cards into their phones.

Worried that they'll be cut out of future transactions, credit card issuers agreed to reduce their fees for Apple Pay — with the expectation that they’ll make more profits through higher volume.

2. Reduced Security Costs

Because Apple Pay is highly secure, credit card issuers don't have to invest as much in their own security infrastructure. Apple has essentially taken on some of the responsibility. This allowed card issuers to reduce their swiping fees even more.

Does Switching to Apple Pay Make Sense for Your Business?

A 10 percent reduction in credit card fees may not seem like a lot. But if this tiny decrease can save you $1,000 annually, then switching to Apple Pay will pay for itself in the first year alone.

And don’t forget that many EMV credit card terminals come with NFC capabilities. In October of 2015, there will be a liability shift on fraudulent transactions for retailers who choose to upgrade their POS systems and terminals to accept chip and pin transactions. So chances are you’ll eventually update your payment infrastructure anyway — whether you choose to use Apple Pay or not.

Subscribe to Weekly Email Digests

Whether you're a small business, an enterprise corporation, a financial institution, or a software partner, we have created a series of blog posts to help you and your customers, learn more about the complex nature of payments. Take a look to learn how payments can help to simplify your business operation, and may even help to grow your revenue.

Let us show you around:

Subscribe to the blog and receive weekly blog digests in your inbox.

Looking for more info on a specific topic? Click one of the topics below.